Construction unit



Oct. 27, 1931. BARKER ET AL 1,829,331

CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Jan. 8, 1930 M 4 WW 5% Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. BARKER AND ARTHUR BAUM, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOBS TO HENRY WEIS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., 01* ELKHART, INDIANA, A (IO E- rom'rIoN or INDIANA coNs'rBuc'rIoN UNIT Application filed January 8, 1980. Serial 1T0. 419,258.

This invention relates to metal construction units, particularly to units for metal partition construction, and aims to provide improved units of this character which simplify assembly and'erection,

The invention may be readily understood 'by reference to one illustrative construction embo'dying'the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings;

In said drawings: p 4 Fig. 1 is a plan section of a portion of a metal partition construction showing apost and adjoining panels; j

Fig. 2 is an elevation, on a reduced scale, of the construction as viewed from the left side of Fig.1;-

Fig. 3 is a plan vview of an anchor strip employed on the interior of the post;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the.

line 44 of Fig. 1 and comprising a longitudinal section of the anchor strip and the associated panel and Fig. 5 is a section, on a smaller scale illustrating an alternative detail ofa connection between a panel and post. a

In the present instance the invention embodies, among other elements, a unit comprising a combined panel and supporting post unit which may advantageously be assembled at the point of manufacture and shipped as a unit to the point of erection.

The panel is represented by a double walled unit made of two sheet metal sections 11 and 12 whose marginal flanges 13 and 14 serve to space the metal sheets to provide a hollow interior 15. This interior is advantageously filled with appropriate filling material such as fiber board or other appropriate filling which reduces the transmission of sound and gives the panel a solid character without substantially increasing its weight. Along the top and bottom edges of the panel and in some instances along one side edge, the metal sheets are bound to gether through their flanges 13 and 14 by a joining strip 16 which extends along the edges of the panel and gives it a finished appearance. The joining strip 16 is distorted in its application and thus resiliently holds the metal sheets together as well as concealing the joint.

The opposite edge of the panel, namely that which adjoins the post 17, is provided with outwardly projecting contacting margins 18 whichin this instance are integral with and are bent outwardly from, the spacing flanges 13 and 14 of the metal sheets. The composite flange formed by the overlapping margins' to the interior transverse dimension of the hollow post 17. The anchor strip 20 is in the present case ofi'set at a plurality of points 21 to provide a plurality of portions 22 and 23 which are relatively offset. The distance B, being the ofiset between adjacent faces of port1ons'22 and 23, is equal to the combined thickness of the flanges 18. At the points of ofiset the strip 20 is slotted as at 24 to a depth corresponding approximately to the distance which the flanges 18 roject into the post 17. In applying the anciior strip the flanges 18 are received in the slots and the portions 22 and 23 lie on opposite sides of the flanges. In this position the anchor strip is secured in any appropriate manner as by spot welding through the flanges and strip as at 25 in a plurality of points. In the present case three relatively short anchor strips are employed at spaced points alon the vertical edge of the panel (see Fig. 25 After-assembly of the anchor strips, the hollow post 17 is drawn into position by sliding it longitudinally of the panel with its free edges projecting between the flan es 13 and 14 on the one hand and the edge 0 the anchor strip on the other hand. To secure a tight fit toavoid rattling and the like, the flanges 13 and 14 along this edge of the panel are bent, relative to theface of the panel, through an angle somewhat greater than ninety degrees, thereby being inclined at a slight angle to the face of the post. The unstrained distance between a plane passing through the corners 26 of the panel and a' parallel plane passing 17, the margins of the anchor strip 20 are advantageously oppositely ofisetas at 28 on the respective portions 22 and 23, in a plurality of separated spots along its inner edge. These insure that the free edges of the post 17 will not spring loose from position if they happen to separate a greater distance than the thickness of the flanges 18 plus the thickness of the anchor strip.

Ordinarily it is convenient to assemble the panel and post in the factory and ship itas a unit to the point of erection. The attached post does not substantially increase the bulk of the unit, yet it adds considerably to the convenience of erection by being initially assembled. Furthermore, a much more solid and unyielding connection between the panel and the post can be effected in the factory where apparatus of suflicient power may be employed-to draw the post into position on the panel. 1

The post is advantageously provided :alon one or more sides (depending on the desire partition construction) with means for receiving an abutting panel or panels, here shown extending at right angles to panellO. Such panel 29 is also shown as a double walled hollow sheet metal panel Whose end adjacent the post is constructed and arranged to be readily connected therewith at the point] of erection. As here shown the margins of the metal sheets 30 and 31 are bent around the flanges of a vertically extendin channel 32 inserted between the sheets. e channeled edge thus formed on this side of the panel fits over and receives a channel member 33 secured to and extending vertically of the post. It is connected to the latter by spot welds 34 or in any other appropriate manner. The opposite edge of the panel 29 may have assembled therewith a post similar to post 17 or not as occasion requires. The construction along the opposite edge prevents the separation of panel 29 from post 17. In forming metal compartments or stalls, the panel 29 may be relatively narrow in width and occupy that portion of the front of the compartment not occupied by the door.

As here shown the edge of panel 10 abuts a wall surface and is held in position adjacent thereto by brackets 35.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated an alternative means of connecting the post 17 to a panel at the point of erection' In this arrangement the panel is finished at the edge similarly to the construction shown for panel 29 in Fig. 1, but the folded over margins 36 terminate short of the bottom of the channel member 37. The channel member 38 secured to the post is provided withoutwardly projecting ridges 39 formed in this case by foldingover the extremities 40 of the channel sides against the outer face of such sides, and thereby providin a square cornered ridge which will snap into and occupy the space left beyond the extremities of the ,margins 36 when the panel is pushed over the channel '38. The panel is thus automatically locked to the post. In the present case the channel 37 is secured to the panel by spot welds 41 which preferably are fused on the inside of the channel so as not to mar the outer surface of the panel.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative construction inasmuch as these may be variously modified. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly since various features may be advantageously employed' in different combinations and subcombinations.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A partition ,unit comprising in combination, a panel having a projecting flange along a side edge, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, an anbhor device connected to said flange and spaced from the side of the panel a distance slightly less than the thickness of said post adjacent said slot, said flange projecting into said slot and said anchor engaging the interior of said post adjacent said slot and distorting said panel side slightly to. effect a tight engagement with said post.

2. A partition unit comprising in combination, a sheet metal panel having an angularly extending margin-and a flange projecting outwardly from said margin in a plane parallel to said panel, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, an anchor device connected to said flange and spaced from the margin of the panel a distance slightly less than the thickness of said post adjacent said slot, said flange projecting into said slot and said anchor engaging the interior of said post adjacent said slot and distorting said panel margin slightly relative to said panel to effect a tight engagement with said post.

3. A partition unit comprising in combination, a hollow sheet metal panel having angularly extending margins to provide a side edge for said panel, a flange projecting from said side edge of said panel, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, an anchor device connected to said flange and spaced from the margins of the panel a dis tance slightly less than the thickness of said the interior of said post adjacent said slot and distorting said panel margins slightly relative to said panel to effect a tight engagement with said post.

4. A partition unit 'comprisin in combination, a hollow sheet metal panel fiaving angularly extending margins to provide a side edge for said panel, a flange projecting from said side edge of said panel, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, into which slot said flange projects, and an anchor strip inside said post and straddling said flange, said strip engaging the interior of said post and being secured to said flange.

5. A partition unit comprising in combination, a hollow sheet metal panel having angularly extending margins to provide a side edge for said panel, a flange projecting from said side edge of said panel, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, into which slot said flange projects, and an an'chor strip inside said post and straddling said flange, said strip being deflected along one margin to provide engaging surfaces for engaging the interior of said post.

6. A partition unit comprising'in combination, a hollow sheet metal. panel having angularly extending margins to'provide a side edge for said panel, a flange projecting from said side edge of said panel, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, into which slot said flange projects, and an anchor strip inside said post and straddling said flange, said strip being of a width to extend from wall to wall of said post and being secured to said flange. p

7. A partition construction comprising in combination a double walled panel having a flange projecting from oneedge, a hollow post slotted along one edge to receive said flange, the edge face of said panel adjacent said post having portions at a slight angle to the face of said post, and anchor means inside said post and associated with said flange to draw said panel against said post so as to distort said ad acent faces so as to effect a tight rattle and panel.

8. A partition construction comprising in combination a hollow sheet metal post slotted vertically along one side, a panel having flange portions projecting through the'slotted face of the post into the interior thereof, and a separate anchor strip embracing opposite faces of the flange portions on the interior of said post and connected to said flange portions and engaging the inside of the slotted face of saidwithdrawal of said pane 9. A partition construction comprising in combination a hollow sheet metal post slot- ,ted vertically along one side, a panel having flange portions pro ecting through the slotted face of the post into the interior thereof,

and an anchor strip having laterally ofiset post to preventthe faces which engage the opposite faces of said flange portions on the interior of said post and connected to said flange portions so as to prevent the separation of the panel from the post. 10. A partition unit comprising in combination, a sheet metal panel having laterally extending portions to provide an abutment for said panel and havin a .marginal attaching flange along a 'si e edge, a hollow post having a side longitudinally slotted, into which slot said flange projects, and an anchor strip inside said post and straddling said flange, said strip engaging the interior of said post and being secured to said flange.

11. A post construction for metal partition construction comprising in combination a hollow post member formed of a single sheet of metal bent into rectangular shape with its adjacent edges spaced apart to provide a longitudinal slot to receive an abutting panel, and a channel shaped attaching member secured to a face of said post immediately adjacent said slotted face and extending long1tud1nally of said post to receive a panel extending at right angles to the first named panel. I

12. A corner construction for partition units comprising in combination a hollow post member formed of a single sheet of metal bent into rectangular shape with its adjacent edges spaced apart-to rovide' a longitudinal slot to receive an abutting panel, a a channel shaped attaching member secured to a face of said post immediately adjacent said slotted face and extending longitudinally of said post to receive a panel extending at right angles to the first named panel, and a panel unit having a channel shaped side edge fitting over and concealing said channel on said post.-' a

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

HARRY E. BARKER.

ARTHUR F. BAUM.

proof connection between post v 

